Texas Divorce

Something unworldly often happens during a Texas divorce. Texas divorce and family law clients experience extreme emotions, financial upheaval and pain. It is the job of the family law attorney to shepherd clients through the tumultuous divorce process and help steer them from feelings of anxiety and fear toward the light at the end of the tunnel. Attorneys of the Connatser family law firm have experience, tenacity and intuition about what will make the future better. They have handled divorces involving the rich and famous, people with family businesses and large amounts of property and those with the custody of children at stake.

They want someone who will listen, advance their goals, use creative problem solving skill and negotiate shrewdly and strategically.

Texas divorce begins by filing an Original Petition for Divorce. In order to file in Texas, either spouse must have lived in the state for at least sixty days and been a resident of the county in which the suit was filed for at least ninety days.

After the petition is filed, it must be served on the other spouse, by the county sheriff or constable, unless that spouse waives the necessity of formal service. If you have been served, or given notice that your spouse has filed for divorce, you should consult with a Texas family law attorney immediately.

Once the non-filing spouse has been served or formally waived service, the divorce can be finalized by the sixtieth day after the Original Petition for Divorce was filed. Texas divorces typically take longer than sixty days to finalize due to the time it often takes for information gathering, analysis, negotiations, and if cases are not settled, litigation.

In Dallas and Tarrant counties, seven state district courts in each jurisdiction hear only family law matters. In most other North Texas counties, divorce and other family law matters are heard by civil district courts that handle many kinds of civil cases. Only a small percentage of divorce and family law cases make their way into Dallas County or Tarrant County courtrooms. More often, the parties may have to appear in court at temporary hearings on such issues as temporary support or temporary custody or visitation.

Most Texas family court judges refer their family law cases to professional mediators who will attempt to settle all or a portion of the issues at hand. Other forms of alternative dispute resolution are available, such as arbitration and collaborative law.

The more contentious a Texas divorce becomes, the more issues the court will have to hear, the more expensive the divorce becomes and the longer it will take to finalize the divorce.